“Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation — a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war. The limited scale of the attack and Iran’s muted response both appeared to signal a successful effort by diplomats who have been working round the clock to avert all-out war since an Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. Iranian media and officials described a small number of explosions, which they said resulted from Iran’s air defences hitting three drones over the city of Isfahan. Notably, they referred to the incident as an attack by ‘infiltrators,’ rather than by Israel, obviating the need for retaliation. An Iranian official told Reuters there were no plans to respond against Israel for the incident.” (04/19/24)
“The US vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Thursday that would have allowed [sic] Palestine to be admitted as a full member of the international body and effectively recognised its statehood. The Biden administration said that while it supports Palestinian statehood, it could only be granted [sic] as part of wide-ranging peace negotiations with Israel. … The 15-member council voted on a draft resolution that would have recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly that ‘the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations.’ Twelve members voted in favour, two abstained and the US vetoed.” [editor’s note: Palestine is already a state, already recognized as a state by the majority of UN member states, already a UN observer state, and doesn’t need to have its statehood “granted” or “allowed.” The UN General Assembly should take up and approve the application even without a Security Council endorsement – TLK] (04/18/24)
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has qualified for Michigan’s 2024 presidential ballot, his campaign announced Thursday. The environmental lawyer and notoriously anti-vaccine member of one of America’s most famous political families has support from the Natural Law Party in Michigan, which gained enough signatures and filed the paperwork to validate his independent run in Michigan. ‘He’s the most-qualified candidate in the modern-day history of America,’ Doug Dern, chair of the Natural Law Party, said in a statement. ‘We welcome Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Shanahan to the party.'” (04/18/24)
“Immigration officials sent dozens of Haitians back to their home country on Thursday, according to three government officials, in the first deportation flight conducted by the United States government in months to the country, which has been gripped by widespread violence. Deportation flights are generally viewed as a way to deter migrants from crossing the southern border without authorization. The United States has been concerned about migration from Haiti after a gang takeover of its capital, Port-au-Prince, this year led to the planned resignation of the prime minister, Ariel Henry. The deportation flight, the first since January, comes as the Biden administration continues to turn toward tougher measures at the southern border as a way to bring down the number of migrants entering the country without authorization.” (04/18/24)
“Jury selection consumed the third day of former President Trump’s hush money trial on Thursday. All 12 jurors have been seated for Trump’s hush money trial after two were dismissed earlier in the day. Dozens of jurors were almost immediately excused after admitting they could not be fair or impartial during the politically divisive trial. Each side, the defense and prosecution, only has about a handful of strikes left. … The first of six alternate jurors was also selected.” (04/18/24)
“A new Virginia law signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday allows universities to pay student athletes for name, image and likeness endorsements. It’s the first state law that could override or nullify the NCAA’s rules on student athlete NIL compensation. The new law takes effect July 1. It outlaws NC[A]A punishment for schools paying athletes through the NIL deals.” (04/18/24)
“The husband of Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been rearrested in relation to a police probe into the finances of the Scottish National party. Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, was previously arrested on April 5 last year as part of Operation Branchform, an investigation that has cast a shadow over the party that has governed Scotland for 17 years. … The investigation, launched in 2021, has focused on complaints that party donations given during independence referendum fundraising appeals of 2017 and 2019 were spent on other things.” (04/18/24)
“A jury found Avraham ‘Avi’ Eisenberg guilty on all three counts of fraud and manipulation in a $110 million crypto trade scheme using the Mango Markets platform. The case was the first known test for a jury to decide whether existing U.S. laws governing fraud and market manipulation apply to the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). The 28-year-old Eisenberg will be held to account for his actions on Oct. 11, 2022, when a series of trades he made intentionally boosted the price of Mango Markets’ native token, MNGO, as well as the price of futures contracts.” (04/18/24)
“Operations at Dubai International Airport remain severely disrupted after heavy rains battered the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring countries. The storm pounded the UAE on Tuesday, flooding roads and the sections of the busy international airport. Flash floods have now killed 20 people in Oman and one in the UAE. Some inbound flights resumed on Thursday, but on the whole Dubai International Airport, a major travel hub, is struggling to function. Many air passengers have told the BBC of scenes of ‘chaos’ at the world’s second-busiest airport, with people unable to travel on their booked flights. Other ‘very anxious’ and disoriented passengers, some travelling with young children, have posted on social media saying that despite confirmed bookings, their tickets are not being processed, because ‘check-in/bag drop/passport control [are] not open.'” (04/18/24)
“Drug store chain Rite Aid Corp. put off a key court hearing in order to complete a deal that would cut $2 billion in debt, resolve lawsuits related to opioid prescriptions and end the company’s six-month-old bankruptcy. The company needs more time to put a series of agreements into writing, company bankruptcy attorney Aparna Yenamandra said during a brief court hearing Thursday. Rite Aid had been scheduled to ask a federal judge next week to approve its reorganization plan, which is built on a series of deals the company is now trying to complete. US Bankruptcy Judge Michael B. Kaplan instead will schedule a status conference on the company’s progress. No new date for a hearing on the reorganization plan was set.” (04/18/24)
